45 pages 1 hour read

Ann Cameron

The Stories Julian Tells

Fiction | Short Story Collection | Middle Grade | Published in 1981

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“My Very Strange Teeth”Chapter Summaries & Analyses

“My Very Strange Teeth” Summary

Huey and Mom listen to Julian and Ralph talk about Julian’s loose tooth. Julian wants his baby tooth to fall out because his new tooth has erupted, and he doesn’t want two teeth where there should be one. Ralph says it might take a while for the old tooth to fall out, but Julian doesn’t want to wait.

Ralph offers a few options for helping Julian’s tooth come out. First, he retrieves a pair of pliers and offers to pull the tooth, but Julian predictably says no. Next, Ralph ties a string around the old tooth, tying the other end of the string to the kitchen doorknob. Ralph tells Julian to close his eyes, but Julian is wary, asking for an explanation. When Ralph explains he will slam the door and pull the tooth out, Julian (again, predictably) asks him to take the string off his tooth.

As one more option, Ralph says Julian can go into the bathroom and push on the tooth until it falls out, explaining that Julian should stand over the sink so that the bleeding won’t make a mess.

Julian changes his mind about trying to get his tooth out sooner.